What is the interpretation of the change in the description from "village" to "city" in the story of the Companions of the Cave, as mentioned in the verses: (So they set out until, when they came to the people of a village, they asked its people for food, but they refused to offer them hospitality. Then they found therein a wall about to collapse, so he restored it. [Moses] said, "If you had wished, you could have taken for it a payment.") and (And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and there was beneath it a treasure belonging to them, and their father had been righteous. So your Lord willed that they reach maturity and extract their treasure as a mercy from your Lord. And I did not do it of my own accord. That is the interpretation of that about which you could not have patience.)?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The term "qaryah" (village) is also used for a city. The evidence for this is Allah's saying: {Until, when they came to the people of a town} [Al-Kahf: 77], and His saying: {And it belonged to two orphan boys in the city}.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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